Our Energy Future - UCSD MOOC

I have just completed a MOOC (massive open online course) at the University of California at San Diego entitled “Our Energy Future.”  It was a 10-week course of video lectures, quizzes, exams and homework assignments.  The idea behind the course was to teach the student about all aspects of energy – sources and uses, fuel types, politics, economics, social issues and climate change.  It was an excellent overview of energy and how it impacts our lives today and into the future.  I would encourage any of you reading this to tell your friends and let UCSD know to replay the MOOC – it is that informative.  The video lectures varied in length from 15 to 20 minutes, with 8 or so per week with the intention of informing the student about people’s impacts on energy use without the scientific mumbo jumbo.  There was the right amount of technical, economic, chemical, physics, engineering, politics, etc., for specialists in those fields, but wanted to learn more about the interconnections of other disciplines.

While the course clearly fell on the side of reducing carbon emissions, it did so with the knowledge that the US is endowed with resources that made this country what it is.  Here was the schedule by week:

Week 1 – Introduction to Energy

Week 2 – Physical Energy Sources 1 – wind, nuclear power

Week 3 – Physical Energy Sources 2 – photovoltaic, smart grid, electric cars

Week 4 – Introduction to Biological Energy Sources and Plant Biofuel

Week 5 – Algae Biofuel

Week 6 – Biofuel Production and Downstream Processing 1 – biodiesel chemistry

Week 7 – Biofuel Production and Downstream Processing 2 - biofuel

Week 8 – Social Issues, Economics, and Politics 1 – economics of energy, etc.

Week 9 – Social Issues, Economics, and Politics 2 – lifecycle assessment, etc.

Week 10 – Climate Change

There were LIVE Thursday or Friday office hours (1 hour) hosted by Dr. Stephen Mayfield, director of the program.  Students could ask questions on-line.  The students would then rank the questions and Dr. Mayfield and his guest would answer the highest ranked questions over the hour.

The first homework assignment was to measure your carbon footprint with a calculator – click here => carbon footprint calculator.  There was a peer review and the ability to see students from around the world and see how you compare.  It was very much an eye-opener. 

Please take the time to calculate your carbon footprint and see where it might take you.